1947-48 National Champions

NCAA Championship #1
KENTUCKY 58, BAYLOR 42
March 23, 1948
New York

Alex Groza and Ralph Beard combined for 26 points and the Wildcats’ defense held the Bears to 16 first-half points to capture UK’s first NCAA title. The title victory enabled the Wildcats to become only the second team ever to win both the NIT and NCAA titles. UK, which finished the season at 34-2, won the NIT title in 1946. Paced by Groza and Beard, the Wildcars turned a 29-16 halftime lead into a 44-28 bulge midway through the second half. After Baylor rallied to cut the lead to 11, UK put the game out of reach as Wallace “Wah Wah” Jones scored four points to give the Wildcats a 15-point lead. In addition to Groza and Beard, the Wildcats also got nine points apiece from Jones and Kenneth Rollins.